-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- design007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueLevel Up Your Design Skills
This month, our contributors discuss the PCB design classes available at IPC APEX EXPO 2024. As they explain, these courses cover everything from the basics of design through avoiding over-constraining high-speed boards, and so much more!
Opportunities and Challenges
In this issue, our expert contributors discuss the many opportunities and challenges in the PCB design community, and what can be done to grow the numbers of PCB designers—and design instructors.
Embedded Design Techniques
Our expert contributors provide the knowledge this month that designers need to be aware of to make intelligent, educated decisions about embedded design. Many design and manufacturing hurdles can trip up designers who are new to this technology.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - design007 Magazine
XNC Format: Gerber Takes Data Into the Future
May 20, 2019 | Denis Morin, Karel Tavernier, Jean-Pierre Charras, and Marius MatiocEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Gerber is the world’s favourite data exchange format for PCB image data: it’s easy to use, crystal clear, and gives designers and engineers an unequivocal language with which to communicate with each other. And this grand old man of the PCB industry has remained at the forefront, powered by ongoing developments that add capability and functionality without ever compromising its characteristic simplicity and ease of use.
It’s the ideal solution for transferring drill data too, as can be seen from scanning the specification. And many in the PCB industry use it for just this, but the majority are still transferring their routing and drilling coordinates using NC formats. These were never designed for data transfer, and more often than not create confusion and waste time.
Some argue that Gerber files, unlike NC files, can’t be sent to a drilling machine. True enough, but PCB manufacturers never send their clients’ incoming files to their machines anyway. Instead, the data goes through the CAM process and is then altered and output as is appropriate to the manufacturer’s specific production line. For CAD, the question should not be which format is best for the machines, but rather which format is best for input into CAM. As we’ve said, this is undoubtedly Gerber.
So, why are CAD developers and their users still stuck on NC formats? It’s most likely a question of inertia or tradition. Drill information has been transferred for decades using NC formats, principally Excellon (hence the generic use of the name “Excellon” for “NC files”), that are similar to the 1985 IPC-NC349 specification. Also, there’s still a lot of legacy software out there, so NC files will likely be with us for a while.
The Problem With Existing NC Specifications
The problem is that so many NC files are of deplorable quality because the NC format was never designed as a data transfer format. It has always been a machine driver and contains all sorts of information that a drilling machine needs, but that is irrelevant and confusing for data exchange. For example, CAD software will typically ask users to specify whether routing should be achieved using nibbling or slot creation and which drill feeds and speeds are to be used. These are decisions that only the fabricator can make, and yet many CAD professionals will feel duty bound to give some sort of answer, which will inevitably be wrong.
To read this entire article, which appeared in the April 2019 issue of Design007 Magazine, click here.
Suggested Items
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Exploring IPC's PCB Design Courses with Kris Moyer
04/18/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOGuest Editor Kelly Dack and IPC instructor Kris Moyer discuss IPC's PCB design training and education offerings. They delve into course topics such as design fundamentals, mil/aero, rigid-flex, RF design, and advanced design concepts. They also highlight material selection for high-speed design, thermal management, and dissipation techniques. The interview wraps up with details about how to access these courses online.
IPC Bestows Posthumous Hall of Fame Award to Industry Icon Michael Ford
04/18/2024 | IPCIPC honored the late Michael Ford, Aegis Software, for his extraordinary contributions to the global electronics manufacturing industry with the IPC Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame Award at IPC APEX EXPO 2024. IPC’s most prestigious honor, the Hall of Fame Award is given to individuals who have provided exceptional service and advancement to IPC and the electronics industry. Ford, an industry leader and valued IPC volunteer, died suddenly in January 2024.
Two Industry Rising Stars Recognized at IPC APEX EXPO 2024
04/17/2024 | IPCTwo of the industry’s best and brightest were presented with an IPC Rising Star Award at IPC APEX EXPO 2024 in recognition of their leadership roles and support of IPC standards, education, advocacy, and solutions to industry challenges. Award recipients were Naim Kapadia and Michael Schleicher.
Two Long-time IPC Volunteers Receive Dieter Bergman IPC Fellowship Award
04/17/2024 | IPCThe Dieter Bergman IPC Fellowship award was presented to two IPC volunteers at IPC APEX EXPO 2024. The award recipients have fostered a collaborative spirit, made significant contributions to standards development, and have consistently demonstrated a commitment to global standardization efforts. Tiberiu Baranyi and Zhiman Chen were chosen as award recipients as they embody the work ethic and spirit of the late Dieter Bergman, an industry pioneer and icon. As part of the award, they bestowed Dieter Bergman Memorial Scholarships to the university or college of their choice.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2024: MYCRONIC's Evolution and New Solutions
04/17/2024 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOHenry Crandall interviews Kevin Clue, the vice president of global sales for MYCRONIC's High Flex division. They discuss the company's evolution, emphasizing its strong customer relationships and its role as a versatile, turnkey solution provider. Kevin unveils new solutions launched at IPC APEX EXPO, including an AI-integrated inspection system and the A40 pick-and-place platform. The conversation also touches on the increased use of AI and deep learning.